Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Tower and Sword, Portugal, from the World's Decorations series (N44) for Allen & Ginter Cigarettes

Art Historical Context

Welcome to the Metropolitan Museum of's Drawings and Prints department, where this tiny gem from 1890 sparkles with history. Titled *Ancient and Most Noble Order the Tower and Sword,*, this commercial color lithograph is part of Allen & Ginter's *'s Decorations series (N44)*, a set of collectible cigarette cards produced by the pioneering American tobacco company. Measuring just 2 7/8 x 3 1/4 inches, it was designed by Allen & Ginter in collaboration with lithographers Lindner, Eddy & Claus and tucked into cigarette packs to entice smokers—especially boys—with vibrant images of global honors. These ephemera cards capture late 19th-century fascination with international aristocracy and chivalric orders, like Portugal's prestigious Order of the Tower and Sword, one of Europe's oldest knightly decorations. Chromolithography, the era's breakthrough technique for affordable, multicolored printing, allowed mass production of these intricate medal designs, blending artistry with commerce. Donated as part of Jefferson R. Burdick's vast collection, it highlights how everyday advertising became cultural artifacts, preserving symbols of nobility in an age of expanding empires and collecting mania. Today, this card reminds us how ephemera bridges art and daily life, turning a puff of smoke into a window on world history.

About the Artist

Allen & Ginter|Lindner, Eddy & Claus

Allen & Ginter, the pioneering American tobacco firm based in Richmond, Virginia, emerged around 1880 from the partnership of John F. Allen and Lewis Ginter, evolving from Allen's earlier John F. Allen & Company. Allen retired in 1882, succeeded by John Pope, yet the brand endured under Ginter's leadership, employing over 1,100 workers—mostly women—for hand-rolled cigarettes by 1886. Ginter, a Dut...